We all knew opening one's hotel room door with a smartphone was just the beginning, didn't we? As the years have turned (and LodgeNet has inexplicably remained), a smattering of companies have seen the opportunity to connect savvy hotel guests to the properties they frequent. Y!kes is the latest to tune in, and its solution undoubtedly has the potential to change the way smartphone users interact with lodging venues. Designed as a hardware + software platform, the proximity-aware access system offers hotels the ability to tightly and specifically grant or deny access to one's phone. As an example, a hotel and guest both utilizing the system could see an elevator automatically choose one's floor upon entry, a door automatically unlock when a patron walks within range, a parking deck automatically have its gate raised, and a VIP lounge door automatically open if the credentials are programmed in.

Going a step further, one could envision this system having the ability to alert a hotel when a guest lands at the nearest airport, thereby triggering a series of events that places fresh Perrier bottles on the desk, blue mood lighting in the bathroom, a thermostat adjustment to 74 degrees and whatever else that person has specified in their profile. Insane? Sure, but not at all outside of the realm of feasibility. Once a venue has installed the system, guests need only have the associated app -- available for Android, BlackBerry OS, Windows Phone and iOS -- running in the background on their device. If all goes as planned, he or she won't even have to drop by the check-in counter, and when the stay is over, they'll be able to bypass the check-out line as well.

If you're curious about app availability, we're told that the iOS build will hit the App Store "this week," while the other three platforms will see launches "within 30 days." We asked the company if it was ready to announce any partnerships with hotel chains, and received the following reply: "As for integration, Y!kes is currently engaged in deep discussions with the top hotel chains and will have information pertaining to specific contracts in the near future." Needless to say, the jetsetters in the crowd will be keeping an ear to the ground for more.

Serving as a software and hardware solution, y!kes presents the next generation of proximity-aware technology through the advancement of Bluetooth capabilities. Offering hotel properties specially engineered y!kes y-devices for install, and consumers a customizable mobile app available for download on Apple, Android, BlackBerry and Microsoft smartphones, these y!kes technologies work together to alter the consumer's experience as soon as they step foot on the property.

"As technology continues to alter our day-to-day lives, we saw an area of true benefit when analyzing the hospitality industry," said Ben Robertson, founder and CEO of y!kes. "We are fortunate to have engineered a solution that takes proximity-aware technology one step further, while harnessing the power of what most carry in their pocket-a smartphone. As a result, we are able to redefine the guest experience and provide value-added service to hotel management and staff, and most importantly, their guests."

Upon complete implementation, y!kes is able to retrieve data from the relevant Property Management System (PMS) to provide an alert through the custom mobile app on the day of check in. Because this alert details their hotel room number, direct bypass of the check in counter is possible. For the full experience, guests need only to have the y!kes mobile app running in the background on their smartphone as they move about the property. Upon arrival, guests are granted immediate entry into any on-site parking garage, with future generations of the technology allowing for immediate activation of pre-determined temperature and lighting settings as specified in the mobile app.

As guests proceed to their rooms, y!kes y-devices recognize the guest and allow for key-less entry to their designated room upon a touch of the door handle. The same key-less entry also becomes available for common areas such as a pool or fitness center. For security, the system allows guests to enter only the permitted areas or floors based on their loyalty status or guest room. Come the day of check out, guests can check out via the mobile app from anywhere in the hotel and receive a bill directly to their designated email address.

"With four years of product development and engineering behind us, we are thrilled to be coming to market with our advanced technology," said Roberston. "With y!kes, we firmly believe we have the power to not only assist, but initiate, the evolution of the industry and present a highly customizable and beneficial guest experience."

With this announcement and the necessary strategic partners in place, y!kes plans to begin delivering beneficial results to hotel properties through the y!kes automated access system. For more information, visit http://www.yikesteam.com or contact info@yikesteam.com.

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About y!kes

Founded in 2008, y!kes is creator of first-of-its-kind, proximity-aware technology solutions. With its automated access system, y!kes harnesses the power of Bluetooth via mobile and proximity-aware technology to maximize service industry infrastructure and provide customers with a customized, memorable experience. For more information, visit http://www.yikesteam.com.